Fuel.



W. G. BLOSS.

FUEL.

, APPLIOATION FILED 0012, 1907.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

rmrran sTA'rns PATENT QFFKQE.

OS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

WILLIAM G. BLoss, or L ever.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

IPatented Aug. 10, 1909.

Application filed. October 2, 1907. Serial No. 395,653.

for its object to provide an improved article of manufactureconstituting a fuel which shall be inexpensive and comparatively simplein production, economical, cleanly, convenient, and highly efficient inuse; and which may utilize in its organization a wide range of waste andother low-value materials and substances; the product being highlysuperior in point of servi'ceability and adaptability to a wide range ofheat-generating uses.

The invention consists in the novel provision, association, andcombination of parts, members, portions and features hereinafterdescribed, illustrated in the drawing, and finally pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawing :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fuel elementproduced according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of thesame inthe process of formation; Fig. 3 is an axial sectional view ofthe completed fuel element, taken upon the line 3-3 Fig. 1, and lookingin the direction of the appended arrows; and, Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview. of a modified form of construction of the fuel element.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the samereference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, and to Figs. 1 to 3inclusive of the same, A designates a preferred form of construction ofa fuel element produced according to the invention. In Fig. 4:, Bdesignates a modified form of construction of such fuel element; theorganization of both forms of construction varying relatively only inshape or confor mation.

Referring now to all the figures, I) designates the body of thefuelelement, and c designates a binder applied to the same and whereby theentirety is maintained in form for shipment, storage and general use. AThe body I) is a strip which comprises a plurality of body-portions (1,preferably of similar constitution in any one fuel element, butvariablein this respect in accordance with the prevailing conditions of useand,heat-generation utilization. Each of the body-portions (2 "com risesa wrapper or envelop 5 of sheet materia and a contained combustible 6 ofgranular material. .The wrapper or envelop 5 is preferably inflammablein nature; but the combustible 6 is essentially so to a degreecommensurate with its constituent material consist of paper or textilematerial, pasteboard, or other suitable inexpensive sheet material,waste newspaper being particua standpoint of inexpensiveness. Thecombustible 6 may consist of, and in its composition or provision beselected from, a wide range of waste and other low-value granularmaterials and substances, such as husks, nutshells, saw-dust, sea-weed,shavings, chips, excelsior, hair, waste-paper, dried grass and leaves,chaff, straw, corn-cobs, garbage, and scraps of various kinds. Thesematerials or substances, or such of same as may be chosen for any onebody-portion, are mixed together or reduced in unitary size andfinely-divided -or granular form, by crushing, grinding, chopping,tearing, or other method, or are utilized in natural form and condition;and the same are massed into the formed wrapper or envelop. 5, to thedesired degree of compression; or the wrapper or envelop is formed orfolded around the materialsor substances constituting the combustible.The resu itant body-portion (1 may, by pre deterinination, be of anypreferred and suitable form; but is preferably a strip elongated andrectangular, as illustrated in the drawing.

The body-portion d is preferably impregnated or saturated with aninflammable filler consisting of crude oil, kerosene, gasolene, fat, orother oily and volatile material or substance; this treatment beinggiven to the wrapper or envelop and to the combustible, or both, eitherbefore or after their association as described.

A plurality of the body-portions d, constituted as above, are nowjointly associated to form the body I); and in theform of constructionshown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive this result is accomplished by layingsuch body-portions together in flat serial'relation, and winding themspirally into a roll around a removable core, former or roller 7. Thebodyportions d p are now tightly compressed and secured to gether incompact form by the binder c,

which may consist of a length 8 of wire, cord,

tape, metal ribbon, or other suitable material; the ends of the samebeing twisted toor substance. The wrapper or envelop 5 may larlysatisfactory in material nature and'from .or vent e is burned throughthe ten and secure the binder in place, preferably about the centralportion'o-f the body. When the core, former, or roller 7 is removed, aflue produced, centrally of the body 6, the walls of the same comprisingthe innermost portions of the body-portion d.

In producing the form of construction illustrated in Fig. 4, theb0dy-portions are also Wound spirally and compressed about a core,former or roller, (not shown), of angular preferably rectangular,conformation; and the resultant shape or conformation of the body Z) isa rectangular spiral, as illustrated. A flue or vent c is likewiseproduced in this form of construction; and the binder cis similarlyapplied. The innermost convolution of the body-portion of the body I) ispreferably moistened with water, to a certain extent, which causes moreeven and gradual combustion of the entire body. The whole fuel ele mentA or B may be immersed in a seal con sisting of slaked lime or asolution'of clay, or plaster, or other suitable material or substance,forming a fixed or non-volatile coating, killing or preventing anydissemination of any odor arising from the body, and retaining thegaseous substances in the latter until combustion takes place.

The method of use and advantages of the improved fuel constituting theinvention will be readily understood. One or more of the fuel elements Aand B is placed in the stove, on the grate, or in the fire-place, thesame being disposed with the flue or vent c of each extendingvertically, and fire is applied to same at the top of each fuel element,or within the flue or vent of the same. Combustion extends downwardlyand outwardly of the body. The binder c of each fuel element ispreferably allowed to remain in operative position to secure an extendedor slow and even combustion of the body I). To this end a binder of wireis preferable, as it resists combustion. To produce a quick combustionthe binder c is taken off, and the body 6 allowed to uncoil and open upto the air. Such uncoiling tendency will be stronger where the body iscomposed of a plurality of body-portions arranged in serial relation,because a weaker convolution in either portion would probably bestrengthened by the adjacent convolutions in the other. If the innermost convolution or either or both the body-portions have beenmoistened as above described, the swelling of the granular combustiblewill tend to expand the same and assist it to uncoil. The fixed sealgradually burns away or is penetrated, liberating the combustible andvolatile gases and exposing the saturated wrapper, and when this is firehas access directly to the granular combustible 6 which constitutespractically the base of this fuel ele- V ment. By the time the flame hasreached this base the seal will have practically disappeared, and if thebinder had been first removed and the coils have opened up the wrapperswill be afire or will have been consumed and the base and its highlyinflammable filler are left to burn with great intensity andefliciency-the duration depending upon the materials employed.

In conclusion, I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself tothe specific provision, combination, association, and con struction ofparts, members, portions and features herein described and shown in thedrawing; but reserve the right to vary the same, in adapting theimprovements to varying conditions of use, without departing from thespirit of the invention or the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

1. A fuel element comprising a body strip wound into a spiral having anaxial flue, and a binder secured tightly around the spiral.

2. A fuel element comprising an inflammable body strip wound intospiral, and a non inflammable binder drawn tightly around said elementwith the extremities of the binder detachably engaging each other.

3. A fuel element comprising a body consisting of a plurality ofbody-portions in strip form superimposed on each other and wound into aspiral having an axial fine, the innermost convolution being moistened.for the purpose set forth.

4. A fuel element comprising a body consisting of a plurality ofbody-portions in strip form superimposed on each other and wound into aspiral having an axial line, the innermost convolution being moistenedfor the purpose set forth, and a binder detachably surrounding thespiral.

5. A fuel element having a body portion made in strip form and woundinto a spiral, said portion comprising throughout its length an envelopof sheet material and an inflammable combustible therein of granularmaterial, and a wire binder surrounding the spiral.

6. A fuel element comprising a body strip wound into a spiral having anaxial flue, the innermost convolution being moistened for the purposeset forth.

7. A fuel element comprising a body strip wound into a spiral having anaxial flue, the innermost convolution being moistened for the purposeset forth, and a binder detach ably surrounding the spiral.

S. A fuel element having a body portion made in strip form and woundinto a spiral, said portion comprising throughout its length an envelopof sheet material and an inflammable combustible therein of granularmaterial, and a wire binder surrounding the spiral with its endsdetachably engaged.

9. A fuel element comprising a base In testimony whereof, Ihave signedmy Wound into a spiral'and consisting of an enname to this specificationin the presence of 10 Velop of sheet material and a granular comtwosubscribing witnesses.

bustlble therein, an inflammable and Volatile filler with which the baseis saturated, WILLIAM BLOSS and a fixed or non-volatile seal or coatingin- Witnesses: closing the whole; combined with a binder RAYMOND IvEsBLAKESLEE,

detachably surrounding said element. AUBIN G. LOCKE.

